Altered Taste and Stroke: A Case Report and Literature Review

Abstract

Patients with altered taste perception following stroke are at risk for malnutrition and associated complications that may impede recovery and adversely affect quality of life. Such deficits often induce and exacerbate depressive symptomatology, which can further hamper recovery. It is important for clinicians and rehabilitation specialists to monitor stroke patients for altered taste perception so that this issue can be addressed. The authors present the case of a patient who experienced an isolated ischemic infarct affecting a primary cortical taste area. This case is unusual in that the isolated injury allowed the patient to remain relatively intact cognitively and functionally, and thus able to accurately describe her taste-related deficits. The case is further used to describe the relevant neurological taste pathways and review potential taste-related therapies.

Poor nutrition and alcohol consumption are related to high serum homocysteine level at post-stroke

“…Hyperhomocysteinemia was prevalent in about 20% of the patients with a history of stroke [ 5 ]. Malnutrition which is common in stroke patients [ 6 7 ] has been reported to be associated with high Hcy levels [ 8 ]. Low dietary vitamin intake was also reported to be a risk factor for high Hcy levels [ 9 ].…”

Bilateral Ageusia and Tongue Anesthesia Following Unilateral Brainstem Infarct: A Case Report with a Brief Review of the Literature

“…However, the gustatory pathway is not yet fully elucidated. Multiple lesion locations were related to ageusia, foremost the insular cortex [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ], the pons [ 5 , 11 , 12 ], and the thalamus [ 13 ].…”

“…Several diverse taste alterations were reported with left insular infarct [ 6 , 7 , 8 ] and right-sided insular lesions [ 8 , 9 , 10 ]. A patient suffered changes for salty and sour taste recognition with normal recognition for bitter and sweet following stroke of the left insular cortex [ 6 ], while in another patient the same lesion location resulted in a diminished pleasure in taste and persistent taste of rotten melon [ 7 ].…”

Using Animal Models to Determine the Role of Gustatory Neural Input in the Control of Ingestive Behavior and the Maintenance of Body Weight

“…Reports have suggested that surgical interventions in the head and neck area can lead to reports of taste defects and weight loss (Caldas et al 2013; Woschnagg et al 2002). Several studies have suggested that stroke patients with damage to area associated with gustatory functioning report taste abnormalities and have weight regulation problems (Dutta et al 2013; Finsterer et al 2004; Green et al 2008; Heckmann et al 2005). A significant fraction of cancer patients have altered taste perception and exhibit both decreased food intake and weight loss (Baharvand et al 2013; Boltong and Keast 2012; Cohen et al 2014; Comeau et al 2001; Epstein and Barasch 2010; Hutton et al 2007; Mahmoud et al 2011; Mattsson et al 1992; Peregrin 2006; Sánchez-Lara et al 2010).…”